Block making machine



NOV. 21, STRAUB ET A 1,936,216

BLOCK MAKING MACHINE 'Filed Jan. 19', 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet i 'INV NTORS.

if $72405. JM MflZSH/ILL. y x 5. 4. YPHEQS'.

j WAD ATTORNEY vide, in such a machine, means whereby one face of themold block is chamfered or beveled, at one:

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 Francis 'J. Straub, New attention, ,John M.

Marshall and Samuel Leonard Cypl'iers, Phila delphia, Pal, assignor sftoCro'zier-Straub, Inc.,

New Y0rk,iN. Y., a corporation of Ne'w York. 'Applicationlanuaryiw,1931.Serial No. 509,626

14 cl ims.

Our invention refers to improvements in" a machine for molding buildingblocks and the-like from plastic material by tamping action within asuitable forming mold. In such machines, as commonly used, the aggregateis delivered to" the interior of the mold box, usuallyaround one or morecores, and then subjected tothe compres' sing action of suitable tamps.The bottom of the mold is usually open and closed underneath by asupporting pallet of suitable constructionyupon which the molded blockrests when ejected from the mold, and by which it maybe removed 'fordrying and storage. 7

Such machines, of different standard forms,

utilize different forms of mold, cores, tamps, feeding apparatus, andother features of well known construction and use in the art, and arewell" known and understood by thosefarniliar with the V manufacture ofconcrete blocks, slabs, etc.

The object of the present invention is t'o pro-,

or both opposite sides, so as to provide an inter;

vening clearance groove between adjacent'blocks supported by interiorcontactwith'eachjother.

The object of such construction binding or closing material, afterthewall been laid up and is otherwise self-supporting. The inventionalsoincludesmeans' io'r'p'rovid f ing similar vertical grooves between theends, of

adjacent blocks, either or both-formsof grooves being available asdesired. a I v a a Whilethe inventionis capable of adaptationgroove-space forming elements. I V In the drawings illustratingone'preferred'embodiment of the invention I I Fig. -1 is a verticalsectional view'showing'the 1 mold filled with" aggregate, with thestripper heads retracted preparatory'to ejection of the molded block;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing thestripper heads swung intoregistering position "and the feed hopper withdrawn; c

Fig. 3 is a similar view shoWing-themoldelevated above the ejectedblock; I

Fig. 4 isan enlarged'view of the under side otthe mold showing thegroove-space forming 'sto providefiir a resulting wall, a series ofcontinuousopen grooves for reception of mortar, cement, or other of themold and the actuating mechanism for the groove-space forming members inco-operative relationjto the feed hopper;

'Fig.' 6 is 'a'detailplan view of the opening and lrlosing dogs for thegroove-space forming mem- I Fig. 7 Ba view in perspective of one of thefinished blocks having a pair of oppositely 10- cated groove spacebevels;

Fig.8 is a detail sectional view showing a modified' form of blade.

Referring'totheblock A illustrated in Fig. 7, it is'generallyo'iusual'no'rmal construction and ing opposite parallel 'j side vwallsand opposite ;parallel"top' and bottom Wall's, and one or moretransverse core openings of well known form. One of th'e'top or bottomfaces a is of a width less. than the i ull'wid'th of the block, forbearing 1 contact againstan adjacent block, for load support; Theiace'uis'pf a ,widthsomewhat less than the "fullwidth and terminatesatone or both sides in a beveled or: sloping face" 2, whereby to'providejthe desirable resulting groove or longitu dinal clearance spacewhen'the blocks are placed in position. '1 Lilrewise ior the samepurpose the ends of the blocks arefprefera'bly beveled as at 3" at, oneor both sides leavinga similar vertical space or I spac "r when'theblocks are in endwise'contact at thei1 maximum length middle portion.The formation of such longitudinal and vertical spaceforming faces'isfsecured by means of the improved construction herein illustrated and nowdescribed; v

f Referring to Figsffl" to 3 inclusivathe moldwl is so mounted andconnected with elevating mechanisnnnot herein necessarily illustrated ordescribed, that it may be lowered to filling and ta'mping position asinFigs. 1' and 2 and elevated I for ejection of. the molded block, asinFig. 3.

A feedhopper'5 of well known construction is sl'idablj mountedon aplatform 6,. below the discharge gate or spout of a superimposed bin 7,from which the aggregate may be delivered to the feed hopper in anydesired quantity. The feed hopper'is adapted to be movedforwardly overthemold for filling and tamping, as inFig. 1, and tobe withdrawnbackwardly on platform 6,"when*the' stripper heads 8 are thrown intoresisting position, as in Fig. 2. Such head'sare mounted on the lowerportion form, approximately rectangular in shape, havof supportingswinging arms 9 pivoted at 10 and actuated through suitable mechanism,not shown.

A series of tampers 11 are also arranged for suitable operation, withprovision for clearance between the stripper heads and the upwardlymoving cores 12 of the machine. The latter are mounted by suitablemeans, as cross supporting bars 13 and proper elevating and loweringmechanism, also of well known construction and use.

A pallet 14 of thin metal, wood, or other suitable material, issupported upon a stationary foundation or frame of the machine, againstwhich pallet the aggregate b of the block to be formed is compactedwithin the mold under action of the tamps 11. Such tamps act for a shortperiod to evenly compress the aggregate around the cores within the molduntil it is filled; after which the feed hopper 5 and any surplusmaterial therein is withdrawn.

The space-forming elements for shaping the under side edge or edges ofthe block consist of one or a pair of laterally adjustable blades or'tion during tamping and retracted out of position during elevation ofthe mold and ejection of the block.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the mechanism for thus adjusting theplates 15 is shown. They aremounted longitudinally along each oppositeunder side of mold 4 for inward and outward sliding movement betweenlower supporting cross bars 17, properly positioned beyond the maximumoperative length or" the mold at each end, and movable upwardly anddownwardly therewith.

Extending outwardly from such cross bars 17, at each opposite end arebrackets '18, bolted or otherwise secured to bars 17 providing outwardlyextending pivotal bearings 19 for vertically arranged rotatable rods 20.Such rods are each provided at their lower ends with a lever 21pivotally connected at opposite ends 22 with links 23, which links arepivotally connected at 24 by a bolt or other suitable pivot, with theends of beveling 'plate 15.

Such mechanism is duplicated at each end, of the mold, and at its upperend each pivoting rod 20 is provided with an actuating dog or lever 25.Such dog, as shown in Fig. 6, is of V form so as to be operativelyengaged between its oppositely disposed prongs 26 by the downwardlyextending stud 27 of an arm or bracket 28. Such arm is" fixedly mountedin' any suitable manner, as by an extension 29, on each opposite side ofthe feed hopper 5.

Thus, when the feed hopper moves outwardly tion, as in Fig. 1.

It will thus be observed that the operative parts will be actuated insynchronism so as to locate the bevel plates as a portion of the bottomof the mold 4 during tamping, and, to. retract them out of register withany portion of the molded block, for upward discharging movement of themold, as in Fig. 3.

When the block has been formed and the mold is about to be elevated, thestripper heads 8 are thrown inwardly to resisting position, holding theblock against movement during elevation of the mold, for free release,as in Fig. 3.

The end walls 30 of the mold are outwardly sloping from each sidetowards the middle, providing the inner faces 31 for forming the bevelfaces 3 of the block. End walls 34) are cut away, as at 32, forclearance of the inner edges of plates 15 to the extent of their inwardmovement. Thus, Fig. 4 shows the blades extended with their inner edgespractically flush with the inner face of the side Walls of the mold, asat 33, and movable by their levers to the inwardly thrust dotted lineposition 34. 7

It will be understood of course that if the horizontal clearance groovesare desired at one side only of the block, a single plate 15 may be usedat such side only, omitting the blade and its lever connections at theother side, for full square corner formation in the usual manneragainst'lQQ the pallet. Also, that if the vertical bevel 3 is likewisedesiredat one side only of the ends of the block, the end walls 30 willbe correspondingly beveled and rectangular respectively at oppositesides of the middle of the end walls.

It will be obvious also that in placeof the. beveled plate 15 the groovespace may be rectangular by using a parallel sided blade 15, as in Fig.8.

The construction'and operation of the invention will be readilyunderstood and appreciated from. the foregoing description.

The several partsare in such operative relation as to effect the formingand ejection of the blocks.

in a continuously rapid and efllcient manner, 115;

while the action of the bevel plate or plates results in a comparativelysmooth, finished, completely efficient beveled face from one end of theblock to the other;

It will be understood that other means for actu 1201 ating thebevel-forming means may be utilized,

.or that the invention may be variously changed or'modified to adapt itto varying conditions or dilferent types of block making machines, or

otherwise modified by the skilled mechanic, but 125,- that all suchchanges are to be understood as within the scope of the followingclaims.

What we claim is; 1. In combination with an upwardly movable laterallyimmovable open top and bottom mold 1- and means actuated by the feedhopper for movl ing the beveling plate inwardly and outwardly. 2. Incombination with an upwardly movable laterally immovable open top andbottom mold and a supporting pallet, a laterally movable resistingstripper head, and a laterally movable 1 feed hopper; a beveling plateon the. mold later-, lly movable between the bottom of, the mold and thepallet, lever mechanism mounted on the mold for moving the bevelingplate inwardly and outwardly, and an'actuating element therefor on the 1feed hopper.

3. In a block, forming machine the combination of a vertically movableopen top, and bottom mold, independently movable beveling plates daptedto. bem ieeted and retracted below the mold walls, lever mechanismmounted on opposite terminals of the mold for moving said platesinwardly and outwardly, a shaft for each of said mechanisms having ashifting dog, a laterally movable hopper for filling the mold, and anabutment on the hopper engageable with the shifting dog.

A. In a block forming machine tion of, a vertically movable open top andbottom mold, independently movable beveling plates adapted to beprojected and retracted. below the .mold walls, lever mechanism mountedon opposite terminals of the mold for moving said plates inwardly andoutwardly, a shaft for each of said mechanisms having a shifting dog, alaterally movable hopper for filling the mold, an abutment on the hopperengageable with the shifting dog, and a laterally movable resistingstripper head adapted to register with the molded block within the mold.

5. In a block forming machine the combination of a vertically movableopen top and bottom mold having parallel side walls and inwardly slopingend walls provided with clearance openings, independently movablebeveling plates adapted to be projected and retracted below the sidewalls and through the clearance openings of the end walls, levermechanism mounted on opposite terminals of the mold for moving saidplates inwardly and outwardly, a shaft for each of said mechanismshaving a shifting dog, a laterally movable hopper for filling the mold,and an abutment on the hopper engageable with the shifting dog.

6. The combination with a vertically movable open top and bottom blockforming mold having a relatively movable forming plate carried by themold, or" a laterally movable resisting stripper head adapted toregister with the molded block within the mold to eiiect dischargeof'the block when the mold is elevated.

7. In a block forming'machine, thecombination of a vertically movableopen top and bottom mold, an independently movable beveling plateadapted to be projected and retracted below one side wall of the mold,lever mechanism mounted on opposite ends of the mold for moving theplate inwardly and outwardly, a shaft for each of said mechanisms havinga shifting dog, a laterally movable hopper for filling the mold, and anabutment on the hopper engageable with the shifting dog. I 8. Thecombination with a vertically movable open top and bottom block formingmold and a laterally movable feed hopper, of a relatively movableforming plate carried by the movable mold operable across the plane ofmovement of the mold, and means actuated bythe feed hopper for movingthe forming plate.

9. The combination with a vertically movable the combinaopen top andbottom block forming mold and a laterally movable feed hopper, of ahorizontally movable forming plate carried by the movable mold, means onthe mold for moving the forming plate inwardly and outwardly, and meanson the feed hopper for actuating said means.

10. The combination with a vertically movable. open top and bottom blockforming mold and a laterally movable feed hopper, of a relativelymovable forming plate extendible inwardly partway of the open area ofthe mold across the plane of the movement of the mold and movable withthe mold'upwardly and downwardly, actuating means for the forming plateon the mold, and a co-operating actuating element on the feed hopper.

11. The combination with a vertically movable open top and bottom blockforming mold and a laterally movable feed hopper, of a horizontallymovable forming plate having a beveled forming face operatively mountedon and movable with the, mold and across the plane of movement of themold, and means on the mold actu ated by the feed hopper, or moving theforming plate.

12. The combination with a vertically movable open top and bottom blockforming mold and a laterally movable feed hopper, of a relativelymovable forming plate carried by the movable mold operable across theplane of movement of the mold, and means actuated by the .feed hopperfor moving the forming plate inwardly and outwardly conformably withfeed hopper movement.

13. The combination with avertically movable open top and bottom blockforming mold and a laterally movable feed hopper, of a pair ofoppositely located inwardly and outwardly movable forming plates eachhaving an upper inner beveled edge portion, said plates being mountedon'and movable with the mold and across the plane of movement of themold, and means on the mold actuated by the feed'hopper for moving theforming plates.

14. The combination with a vertically movable open top and bottom blockforming mold and a laterally movable feed hopper, of a pair ofoppositely located horizontally arranged inwardly and outwardly movableforming plates each having an upper inner beveled edge portion, saidplates beingmounted on and movable with the 'mold and across the'planeof movement of the mold, lever mechanism on each end of the moldconnected with the ends of the plates and provided with terminal dogs,and abutments carried by the feed hopper adapted to engage said dogs.FRANCIS J. STRAUB. JOHN M. MARSHALL.

S. LEONARD CYPHERS.

